Living
Epigram II. — An Exhortation to Moderation
Translated by Hugh G. Evelyn-White (1919–21) · From Book XIX. — Epigrams of Ausonius on Various Matters
'Tis said that Agathocles when king dined off earthen plates and that his sideboard oft bare a load of Samian ware, whereas he used to lay his rustic trays with jewelled cups, thus mingling wealth and poverty together. To one who asked his reason he replied: "I, who am king of Sicily, was born a potter's son."
Bear good fortune modestly, whoe'er thou art who from a lowly place shall rise suddenly to riches.
This translation is printed as prose in its source edition.
Cite this poem
MLA
Ausonius, Decimus Magnus. “Epigram II. — An Exhortation to Moderation.” Translated by Hugh G. Evelyn-White. Poetry Codex, poetrycodex.com/poem/ausonius/205/.
Chicago
Ausonius, Decimus Magnus. “Epigram II. — An Exhortation to Moderation.” Translated by Hugh G. Evelyn-White. Poetry Codex. https://poetrycodex.com/poem/ausonius/205/.
Read this poem with the Codex →